A new, integrated underreamer, with real-time communications, was used to underream 6,555 ft in a North Sea well with minimal vibrations. An in-gauge borehole made it easy for successful running, rotation and cementing of a 4,300-ft liner.

The downward slide in crude oil prices is expected to have a proportional impact on oil-directed drilling in the United States. On the other hand, the Henry Hub gas price has remained under $4/Mcf since 2010, so gas-directed drilling is expected to remain steady during 2015.

Injection pressures of proppant-laden slurry and proppant-free spacer, using a pulsing approach, were found to be significantly lower than those applied with conventional hydraulic fracturing treatments.

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